“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Jesus had just asked him for the third time if he loved him. Peter had already answered this question twice with a “yes”. What else was he supposed to say? Had he lost the Savior’s trust?

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Perhaps it wasn’t that Jesus doubted Peter’s love. Instead, he allowed Peter to affirm his love for Jesus three times to match the three times he denied Him. 

Peter’s failure was both humiliating and unbearable. He proudly and self -confidently announced his loyalty to Jesus in front of everyone during the Passover meal: “I will lay down my life for you.” He thought he would. When Jesus replied, “The rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times,” Peter couldn’t imagine it.

Peter had no idea how weak and helpless he was when it came to temptation. The memory of Jesus’ face as He looked at Him after He completely caved when he said for the third time, “I am not”, had to be the most painful. 

I am not.

I can imagine those words keeping Peter awake at night. Some rock he turned out to be. “Who am I? What am I?” he might have wondered. Peter the rock or the Peter who cowered before a servant girl?

In truth, Peter was all of those things: loyal, loving, bold, reactionary, and weak in his sin. That night Peter discovered how much he depended on Jesus for strength. He was not strong. He was not superior to the others. He was not above denying the One he loved most in front of a servant girl.

Peter also discovered how powerful Satan was. Jesus had warned him that Satan had demanded to sift the disciples like wheat. And that night, Peter realized that the only spiritual power he had came from the Son. His determination was no match for Satan. Apart from Jesus, he could do nothing.

One source of hope for Peter was Jesus’ words, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).

Peter had failed. But Jesus knew that would happen, and he had prayed that Peter’s faith would not be destroyed. “When you have turned.” Those words were so full of hope. Jesus’ power would help him turn from his failure to faithfulness again and become a rock to the other disciples.

Peter’s failure did not define him. Regardless of how bad it was, when Jesus died on the cross, he ultimately paid for the sin of Peter’s denial. “Not guilty” was the final word for Peter. He knew he did not deserve acquittal. But Jesus had settled Peter’s account with the Father and gave him guiltlessness as an unconditional gift of love.

He was not Peter “The Denier” but Peter “The Forgiven.”

This Sunday, we will look at how quickly we can enter into the downward spiral and what the warning signs are.